Accordion strap attachment



I May 6, 1941. F, STUCHLY "2,241,074

ACCORDION STRAP ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 30,-1939 3nnentor (Ittomeg Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE ACCORDION STRAP ATTACHMENT Fred Stuchly, East Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of one-half to Karl Staub, Turtle Creek, Pa.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment device, and while primarily designed and intended for connecting the supporting straps of an accordion, it will be obvious that the invention may be employed for any other purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects and advantages of the invention are to provide an accordion strap attachment of the character described, which will automatically adjust itself to all needed adjustments to prevent the buckling and distortion of the attached straps, which may be quickly and conveniently manipulated to secure same in the attached position or to effect its release from the latter, which cannot become disengaged accidentally, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efiicient in its use, compact, attractive in appearance, and economical in its manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions, and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an accordian strap attachment constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional View, greatly enlarged, of the snap fastener attached to the associated connecting element.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side View of the snap fastener in the releasing position.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the connecting element.

Referring in detail to the drawing i denotes the end frame of an accordion of the conventional construction. A connecting element 2 is secured to each accordion end frame adjacent to the upper end of the latter. The connecting element comprises a fiat, circular base plate 3 and a similarly shaped adjusting plate 4. The adjusting plate is positioned flatly over and against the base plate and is revolubly secured to the latter by a diametrically disposed pivoting member in the form of a rivet 5. The revolving movement of the adjusting plate on the base plate is limited by a stop pin 6, which is fixed on the inner side of the adjusting plate and engages in a quadrant, arcuate slot 1 provided in the base plate, as clearly shown in Figure 4, whereby the adjusting plate may be shifted from one position to another at right angles to the latter.

The base plate 3 is provided with a plurality of apertured ears 8 for the reception of screws 9 for permanently securing the connecting element 2 to the accordion end member. An elongated eye-bar I0 is mounted on the adjusting plate '3 and has its ends fixed to the latter at respective sides of and in diametric alignment with the centrally disposed pivoting rivet 5. The eyebar is shaped to laterally offset same with respect to the connection of its ends with the adjusting plate for the purpose to be described.

The most important feature of the invention consists of the novel construction of a snap fastener ll employed in conjunction with the connecting element 2 hereinbefore described. The snap fastener comprises an outer section l2 and an inner section it. The sections i2 and [3 are constructed of a suitable, preferably resilient, sheet material, are comparatively wide, and generally have a uniform contour.

One end of each of the sections l2 and I3 is permanently connected and preferably fixed to a common side member of a triangularly-shaped strap link l4. Such connection of the section ends is preferably effected by rolling same around said side member in opposite directions, relatively to each other as respectively indicated at l5 and It.

The connections of the section ends with the link side member is such that the same tends to spread or space the free ends of the sections from each other, and thereby allow said free ends to be resiliently drawn toward each other. It is of course apparent that, if desired, the sections i2 and i3 could be successfully constructed of an integral piece of sheet metal suitably formed to effect its connection with the strap link I4 to permit its operation as set forth.

The free end of the outer section i2 is shaped to form a rearwardly disposed hook ll, which is adapted for detachable engagement on the eyebar I ii, and the offset position of the latter greatly facilitates such engagement. The free end of the inner section It is provided with a pair of spaced, forwardly disposed retaining lugs I8, which are disposed at respective corners of the former. The free end of the inner section seats against the lip IQ of the hook ll, when the fastener is in the connecting position as shown in Figure 2, and the free ends of the retaining lugs respectively extend into a pair of laterally opening slots formed in the side edge margin of the outer section l2 adjacent to the hook IT.

The fastener II is manipulated to the releasing position by forcing the sections [2 and I3 flatly against each other, while the retaining lugs l8 pass into and through respective slots 20 in the section I2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The obvious purpose of the retaining lugs is to maintain the eye-bar Ill within the hook I"! when the fastener is connected with the connecting element 2.

The sections l2 and 13 are respectively formed, intermediate of their lengths, with a pair of opposed pockets 2|, 22, for the reception and engagement of an interposed spiral spring 23. The latter normally functions, in conjunction with the connection of the sections with the link M as set forth, to force and resiliently maintain the fastener in the connected position.

The formation of the pockets 2 I, 22, in respective sections !2 and i3, provide respective swells 24, 25, which latter are suitably located on said sections for convenient engagement by the thumb and finger of the manipulator, and greatly facilitate the manipulation of the fastener when forcing the latter to the open position against the action of the spring 23.

A shoulder strap 2'6 has its respective ends connected, in any suitable manner, to respective side members of the triangularly-shaped link 14. In practice, a shoulder strap with an improved attachment therefor, is provided at each member of an accordian. The straps pass over the shoulders and under the arms of the operator for suitably supporting the instrument in the manner well known in the art.

It will here be noted that the relative positions and inter-engagement of the stop pin 6 and arcuate slot 1, of the connecting element 2, are such that the adjusting plate 4 can shift to dispose the snap fastener vertically with respect to the accordian end member, as shown in Figure 1, or at any angle from such vertical position to a full right angle in the direction toward the operator from whom the instrument is suspended. By this arrangement the snap fastener will automatically adjust itself to the proper position when the instrument is suspended from the operator.

The present invention provides a most efficient device of its kind, which may be economically manufactured and successfully employed in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A fastener of the character described comprising the combination of an outer section, an inner section, said sections being constructed of sheet metal and further being of considerable Width, a trieangularly shaped strap link, one end o f each of said sections being fixedly secured to a common side member of said link, a hook formed at the free end of said outer section, each of said sections being formed with a pocket disposed intermediate of the ends thereof, said outer section being provided with a pair of laterally opening slots disposed adjacent to said hook at respective side edge margins of said outer section, a spiral spring engaged in said pockets and being normally operable for forcing the free end of said inner section against the free end of said hook, and a pair of retaining lugs carried at the respective corners of the free end of said inner section and engaging in said slots.

2. A fastener of the character described comprising the combination of an outer section, an inner section, said sections being constructed of sheet metal and being of considerable width, 2. triangularly-shaped strap link, each of said sections having one end thereof fixedly secured to a common side member of said link by turning respective ends in opposite directions with respect to each other around said member, a hook formed at the free end of said outer section and being adapted for engaging a connecting element, each of said sections being formed with a pocket intermediate the ends thereof, said outer section being provided with a pair of laterally opening slots adjacent to said hook at respective edge margins of said outer section, a spiral spring engaged in said pockets and being normally operable for forcing the free end of said inner section against the free end of said hook, and a pair of lugs carried at the respective corners of the free end of said inner section and extending into said slots for retaining said element in said hook.

3. A fastener of the character described comprising the combination of an outer section, an inner section, said sections being constructed of sheet metal and being of considerable width, a triangularly-shaped strap link, each of said sections having one end thereof fixedly secured to a common side member of said link by turning re spective ends in opposite directions with respect to each other around said member, a hook formed at the free end of said outer section and being adapted for engaging a connecting element, each of said sections being formed with a pocket intermediate the ends thereof and providing swells on the outer surfaces of respective sections to facili tate the manipulation of the latter, said outer section being provided with a pair of laterally opening slots adjacent to said hook at the side edge margins of said outer section, a spiral spring engaged in said pockets and being normally operable for forcing the free end of said inner section against the free end of said hook, and a pair of lugs carried at respective corners of the free end of said inner section and extending into said slots for 1rgetaining said element in engagement in said hoo FRED STUCHLY. 

